January Stewardship Appeal "Thank, Ask and Tell"

This past summer, the Stewardship Team and other members of the congregation joined together in a study of a book by Charles Lane entitled “Ask, Thank and Tell: Improving Stewardship Ministry in Your Congregation.” We had some wonderful discussions, and I personally learned more about stewardship in that month than I have in my 50+ previous years. I learned from Charles Lane’s words, but also from the words and thoughts of the other participants in the discussion.

I wish you all could have been part of those sessions. Our team was so excited about the things we learned that we decided to forego the standard approach to the annual campaign and instead spend the next several weeks talking with you about this new way of thinking about stewardship.

The Stewardship Team recently adopted a new mission statement. It helps remind us that stewardship is NOT about paying the bills. It is NOT about the needs of the church. It is NOT about meeting the budget. As our new mission statement says, it is about helping people grow in their relationship with Jesus through the use of the time, talents and finances that God has entrusted to them.

During three Sundays in January, we will focus on three active verbs that form the structure of our Stewardship Ministry: Ask, Thank and Tell.

Telling describes the many ways that we make the congregation aware of the wonderful work we all do together. Each person’s support is important for the ongoing work of ministry.

Thanking describes all the ways that our congregation acknowledges with appreciation the generous responses of each person who supports the ministry we do together.

On the third Sunday, Jon Boldt, the Stewardship Leader of our synod will be here to talk about Asking. Asking describes all the different ways that you are asked to consider the blessings that God has entrusted to you, and how you decide to respond to those blessings through your giving.